Thursday, September 15, 2016

Helping our neighbors get ready for the winter to come - By Rep. Mark Bryant

The days are
getting shorter and colder, and winter is on its way. The cool fall weather may
be a welcome relief, but it signifies the bitterly cold weather to come. It can
be expensive to keep our homes warm here in Maine, where winter weather is
especially brutal and many houses are old and drafty.

There are several
resources out there to help Mainers afford to heat their homes. One of them,
Neighbors Helping Neighbors, is a nonprofit that provides fuel assistance to
Windham residents. I was proud to be part of the group that founded this
organization in 2007, along with Sen. Bill Diamond and former Sen. Gary
Plummer. The goal is to provide emergency one-time heating fuel assistance to
any Windham citizen in need. Over the years, this program has had a strong
record of success, helping hundreds of our Windham neighbors stay safe and
comfortable during the harshest months of the year.

On September 30,
the Sixth Annual Charity Gala and Auction will take place to benefit Neighbors
Helping Neighbors. The event will be held in the St. Joseph’s College cafeteria,
beginning with a silent auction and cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be
served at 7 p.m., followed by a live auction. We already have an impressive
list of auction items! Please visit the website at www.windhamneighbors.org or call me at 892-6591 to learn more about
the event and other ways to contribute to the organization.

Another important
resource is the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, which helps with a
portion of heating costs and is available to all Maine homeowners and renters
who have a family income that falls below 150 percent of the poverty level. For
example, a family of four with an annual income of $36,450 will qualify. The
income guidelines are adjusted for families that include individuals who are
especially vulnerable to cold weather, such as the elderly, a young child or
those with certain medical conditions. The Opportunity Alliance overseas LIHEAP
in our community, and they can be reached at 553-5900 or through email at heatingassistance@opportunityalliance.org.

We can all save
money on heating and energy costs by finding ways to keep the warm air in and
cold air out of our homes. Efficiency Maine offers energy audits to help
identify air leaks and suggest heating system upgrades and weatherization
improvements. These small steps can save homeowners hundreds of dollars per year.
Visit www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/energy-audit
or call 1-866-376-2463 to
schedule an audit.

We cannot forget
the other needs of our neighbors that become increasingly critical during the
winter months. The Windham Clothes Closet is always accepting donations of
hats, gloves, jackets and other winter clothes for those in need. They can be
reached at 892-1906. Donations to the Windham Food Pantry are accepted Monday
through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 377 Gray Road.

Wishing everyone
an enjoyable fall season and best of luck preparing for the winter ahead.